{"id":"court_ctb_2093_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":2093,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2023-05-18","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT HO WAN KWOK, *et al.*, ) (Jointly Administered)","summary_zh":"民事藐视法庭裁定 —— Ho Wan Kwok 破产案（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo），CTB 22-50073 ECF #2093（2023-05-18立案）。破产法院法官 Julie A. Manning 裁定批准受托人 Luc Despins 的补充动议，认定 GTV Media Group, Inc. 与 Saraca Media, Inc. 因未能履行破产法第 2004 条传票要求而构成民事藐视法庭，并准许两公司在2023年9月15日前通过完全配合传票要求消除藐视，逾期受托人可申请包括律师费和支出在内的制裁。","summary_en":"Civil Contempt Order — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #2093 (filed 2023-05-18). The Bankruptcy Court (Judge Julie A. Manning) granted Chapter 11 Trustee Luc Despins' supplemental motion, holding GTV Media Group, Inc. and Saraca Media, Inc. in civil contempt for failing to comply with Rule 2004 subpoenas, and ordered that they may purge the contempt by complying by September 15, 2023, failing which the Trustee may seek sanctions including fees and expenses.","body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT**\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al.*, ) (Jointly Administered)\n\n)\n\n)\n\n)\n\nDebtors.1\n\nIn re: ) Chapter 11 ) Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n) Re: ECF No. 1805, 2080\n\n## **ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO HOLD GTV MEDIA GROUP, INC. AND SARACA MEDIA, INC. IN CIVIL CONTEMPT FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH RULE 2004 SUBPOENAS**\n\nBefore the Court is the Motion for Entry of Order Compelling GTV Media Group, Inc. and Saraca Rule 2004 Subpoenas dated May 18, 2023 (the \"Motion\"),2 ECF No. 1805, and the Supplemental Motion to Hold GTV Media Group, Inc. and Saraca Media Group, Inc. in Civil Contempt of Court for Failing to Respond to Rule 2004 Subpoenas dated August 11, 2023 (the \"Supplemental Motion,\") ECF No. 2080, filed by Mr. Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as Chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") for the bankruptcy estate of Mr. Ho Wan Kwok. For the reasons stated below, the Court holds GTV Media Inc. (\"GTV\") and Saraca Media Group, Inc. (\"Saraca\") in contempt of Court.\n\nA hearing was held on the Motion on June 6, 2023. Although the Motion sought to compel production of documents from GTV and Saraca, the Trustee asked the Court to enter an\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n<sup>2</sup> Various pleadings and orders discussed in this Order were omnibus in nature. For the sake of clarity, the titles of pleadings and orders are set forth herein only as they concern Hudson Diamond Holdings LLC.\n\norder holding GTV and Saraca in contempt of court because although they responded initially to the subpoenas directed to them, they have not responded or produced any documents since December 2022. The Trustee also asked the Court to order Attorney Aaron A. Mitchell to appear and testify regarding GTV and Saraca.\n\nOn June 7, 2023, the Court issued an order to show cause (the \"Order to Show Cause\") requiring\n\nGTV Media Inc. (\"GTV\"), through an Officer, Director, Member, or Manager; Saraca Media Group, Inc. (\"Saraca\"), through an Officer, Director, Member, or Manager; and Attorney Aaron A. Mitchell shall personally appear on July 18, 2023 at 12:30 p.m., at the United States Bankruptcy Court, 915 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT 06604, and show cause why this Court should not hold GTV and Saraca in civil contempt of court for failing to respond or comply with subpoenas authorized by this Court . . ..\n\n(ECF No. 1893.) Attorney Mitchell appeared during the show cause hearing only in his personal capacity. Attorney Mitchell represented to the Court that, although he continued to be employed as an attorney by GTV and Saraca, as of April 20, 2023, he is no longer a member of GTV's board and he had no authority to oppose a finding of contempt against GTV and Saraca. He also testified he was not appearing at the show cause hearing on behalf of GTV or Saraca. No representative of GTV or Saraca appeared during the show cause hearing.\n\nDuring the July 18th show cause hearing, Attorney Mitchell testified that between December 2022 and April 2023 he did not respond to the Rule 2004 subpoenas because (i) he was not a director of Saraca; (ii) he did not have access to GTV's server and he did not know who did other than the service provider; (iii) he was alone at GTV; (iv) the Trustee was not persistent in his attempts to obtain consensual compliance; and (v) Lawall & Mitchell, LLC had produced all the GTV documents in his possession. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Court gave the Trustee time to file a supplemental pleading in response to Attorney Mitchell's testimony.\n\nOn August 11, 2023, the Trustee filed the Supplemental Motion. In the Supplemental Motion, the Trustee argues that (i) there is no dispute that GTV and Saraca were aware of the Rule 2004 subpoenas given the efforts of their previous counsel; (ii) contrary to Attorney Mitchell's representations, the Trustee repeatedly sought compliance through communication after previous counsel ceased its representation; (iii) Attorney Mitchell had an obligation to bring GTV into compliance while its director; and (iv) GTV and Saraca did not appear or show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court.\n\nParagraphs 24 through 33 of the original Motion detail the Trustee's communications with GTV, Saraca, and Attorney Mitchell regarding the Rule 2004 subpoenas directed at GTV and Saraca. Exhibits C-1, C-2, D-1, D-2, E, and F to the Declaration of Avram E. Luft attached to the Motion support the Trustee's assertions. The Court is not persuaded by Attorney Mitchell's testimony that the Trustee was not diligent in his efforts to seek compliance.\n\nThe Motion and the Order to Show Cause were served on GTV and Saraca, as evidenced by the Trustee's Certificates of Service. (ECF Nos. 1826, 1902.)\n\nTherefore, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g), made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9016, the Court finds GTV and Saraca in contempt for failure to comply with or respond to the Rule 2004 subpoenas. The failure to excuse their lack of response to the Rule 2004 subpoenas despite the ample time the Court has afforded them, either in response to the Motion or the Order to Show Cause, supports a finding of contempt.\n\nAccordingly, it is hereby\n\n**ORDERED:** The Supplemental Motion is **GRANTED** as set forth below; and it is further\n\n3\n\n**ORDERED:** GTV Media, Inc. (\"GTV\") and Saraca Media, Inc. (\"Saraca\") are held to be in civil contempt of court; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** GTV and Saraca may purge themselves of contempt by complying with their Rule 2004 subpoenas. Should either GTV Media or Saraca Media fail to purge itself of contempt by September 15, 2023, the Trustee may move for appropriate sanctions, including the reimbursement of all fees and expenses associated with the Motion as it relates to GTV and Saraca and the Supplemental Motion; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** On or before August 21, 2023, the Trustee shall serve this Order upon GTV and Saraca, and on or before August 24, 2023, shall file a certificate of service demonstrating compliance with this Order.\n\nDated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 18th day of August, 2023.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT（美国康涅狄格区破产法院）\n\nHO WAN KWOK, et al.（郭文贵等人），） （合并审理）\n\n）\n\n）\n\n）\n\n债务人。1\n\n关于：） 第 11 章 ） 案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n\n） 涉及：ECF No. 1805, 2080\n准许因未遵守第 2004 条传票而裁定 GTV MEDIA GROUP, INC. 及 SARACA MEDIA, INC. 构成民事藐视法庭的动议的命令\n\n本院审理的是日期为 2023 年 5 月 18 日的《要求对 GTV Media Group, Inc. 及 Saraca 作出强制执行第 2004 条传票之命令的动议》（下称“《动议》”），2 ECF No. 1805，以及日期为 2023 年 8 月 11 日的《要求因未回应第 2004 条传票而裁定 GTV Media Group, Inc. 及 Saraca Media Group, Inc. 构成民事藐视法庭的补充动议》（下称“《补充动议》”），ECF No. 2080，由 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）先生破产财产的第 11 章受托人（下称“受托人”）Luc A. Despins 先生提交。基于下述理由，本院认定 GTV Media Inc.（下称“GTV”）及 Saraca Media Group, Inc.（下称“Saraca”）构成藐视法庭。\n\n本院于 2023 年 6 月 6 日就《动议》举行了听证会。尽管《动议》申请强制 GTV 和 Saraca 提交文件，但受托人请求本院作出\n\n1 在这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称 Miles Guo、Miles Kwok 以及诸多其他化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）和 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 和 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok（仅用于接收通知和联络之目的）。\n\n2 本命令中所讨论的各项诉答文书和命令具有综合性质。为清晰起见，此处列出的诉答文书和命令的标题仅涉及其与 Hudson Diamond Holdings LLC 相关之内容。\n\n裁定 GTV 和 Saraca 藐视法庭的命令，因为尽管它们最初对向其发出的传票作出了回应，但自 2022 年 12 月以来它们未再作出回应或提交任何文件。受托人还请求本院命令 Aaron A. Mitchell 律师出庭就 GTV 和 Saraca 作证。\n\n2023 年 6 月 7 日，本院发出了一项辩诉理由命令（下称“《辩诉理由命令》”），要求\n\nGTV Media Inc.（“GTV”），通过一名高级职员、董事、成员或经理；Saraca Media Group, Inc.（“Saraca”），通过一名高级职员、董事、成员或经理；以及 Aaron A. Mitchell 律师，均应于 2023 年 7 月 18 日中午 12:30 亲自出席位于 United States Bankruptcy Court, 915 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT 06604（美国破产法院，康涅狄格州布里奇波特市拉斐特大道 915 号，邮编 06604）的法庭，并陈述本院为何不应因 GTV 和 Saraca 未回应或未遵守本院授权之传票而裁定其构成民事藐视法庭的理由……。\n\n（ECF No. 1893。）Mitchell 律师在辩诉理由听证会期间仅以其个人身份出席。Mitchell 律师向本院陈述称，尽管他继续受聘担任 GTV 和 Saraca 的律师，但截至 2023 年 4 月 20 日，他已不再是 GTV 的董事会成员，且他无权代表 GTV 和 Saraca 反对作出藐视法庭认定。他亦作证称，他出席辩诉理由听证会并非代表 GTV 或 Saraca。GTV 或 Saraca 均无代表出席辩诉理由听证会。\n\n在 7 月 18 日的辩诉理由听证会期间，Mitchell 律师作证称，在 2022 年 12 月至 2023 年 4 月期间，他未回应第 2004 条传票是因为：(i) 他不是 Saraca 的董事；(ii) 他无权访问 GTV 的服务器，且除服务提供商外他不知道谁有权限；(iii) 他在 GTV 是孤身一人；(iv) 受托人并未持续尝试以协商方式促成合规；以及 (v) Lawall & Mitchell, LLC 已经提交了其占有的所有 GTV 文件。在听证会结束时，本院给予受托人时间以针对 Mitchell 律师的证词提交一份补充诉答文书。\n\n2023 年 8 月 11 日，受托人提交了《补充动议》。在《补充动议》中，受托人主张：(i) 鉴于 GTV 和 Saraca 前任律师所作出的努力，毫无争议它们知晓第 2004 条传票；(ii) 与 Mitchell 律师的陈述相反，在前任律师终止代理后，受托人曾多次通过沟通敦促合规；(iii) Mitchell 律师在担任 GTV 董事期间有义务使 GTV 遵守规定；以及 (iv) GTV 和 Saraca 并未出庭或陈述其不应被裁定构成藐视法庭的理由。\n\n原《动议》第 24 至 33 段详细列明了受托人与 GTV、Saraca 以及 Mitchell 律师之间关于针对 GTV 和 Saraca 发出的第 2004 条传票的沟通情况。《动议》所附 Avram E. Luft 声明的附件 C-1、C-2、D-1、D-2、E 和 F 支持了受托人的主张。对于 Mitchell 律师关于受托人未尽职寻求合规的证词，本院不予采信。\n\n受托人的《送达证明》证明，《动议》和《辩诉理由命令》已送达 GTV 和 Saraca。（ECF Nos. 1826, 1902。）\n\n因此，依据经 Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9016（《联邦破产诉讼规则》第 9016 条）适用的 Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g)（《联邦民事诉讼规则》第 45(g) 条），本院认定 GTV 和 Saraca 因未遵守或未回应第 2004 条传票而构成藐视法庭。尽管本院给予了充分的时间，无论是在对《动议》还是对《辩诉理由命令》作出回应方面，它们未能为其不回应第 2004 条传票的行为提出正当抗辩，这支持了作出藐视法庭的认定。\n\n据此，特此\n\n命令：《补充动议》按下文所述予以准许；并且进一步\n命令：裁定 GTV Media, Inc.（“GTV”）和 Saraca Media, Inc.（“Saraca”）构成民事藐视法庭；并且进一步\n\n命令：GTV 和 Saraca 可通过遵守其第 2004 条传票来解除自身的藐视状态。如果 GTV Media 或 Saraca Media 在 2023 年 9 月 15 日前未能解除自身的藐视状态，受托人可申请适当的制裁，包括偿还与针对 GTV 和 Saraca 的《动议》以及《补充动议》相关的所有费用和开支；并且进一步\n\n命令：受托人应在 2023 年 8 月 21 日或之前将本命令送达 GTV 和 Saraca，并在 2023 年 8 月 24 日或之前提交证明已遵守本命令的送达证明。\n\n日期：2023 年 8 月 18 日，于康涅狄格州布里奇波特市。","key_entities":["GTV","Saraca","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Despins","Miles Guo","Paul Hastings"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":1805,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1893,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":2080,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1119,"status":"published","published_at":"2023-05-18 00:00:00","created_at":"2023-05-18","updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:41:55"}